Method of quenching wheels and the like



Oct. 29, 1935.

A. w-ALCHER METHOD OF QUBNCHING WHEELS AND THE LIKE 1L s a ,v 3

a w w m x m Oct. 29, 1935. H R 2,019,281

METHOD OF QUENCHING WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 1.8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (ZZfred Wacizer; JM W 1 Oct. 29, 1935. A WALCHER 2,019,281

METHOD OF QUENCHING WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed y 18, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet a Q 1 1% Q q Q 1) 1 w J @4 P in 1 F I IIl Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 2,019,281 mzrnon or ommcnnvc WHEELS AND 'rm: mm

tion of New Jersey Application May 18, 1932, Serial No. 612,061

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to the quenching of articles, and more particularly to the quenching of car wheels and the like..

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel method of and means for quenching metal articles, such as car wheel castings and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for and method of quenching a metal article whereby the effect of a given quantity of quenching fluid is greatly increased and improved over anything heretofore known.

The present invention contemplates the idea of providing a novel method of and means for quenching a metal object in which the quenching of certain portions or areas may be effectively controlled and regulated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for and method of quenching a metal object in which the character and degree of hardness of certain portions of the metal may be easily and readily controlled.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for and method of causing a differential or progressive quenching of various portions of the metallic body or article.

Still another object within the purview of the present invention is to provide novel means for and method of quenching a metallic body or article, including the idea of controlling the variations in degree of hardness by the manner in which the quenching fluid is directed against the various portions of the metal body or article.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device for carrying out the method of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by line 2-4 of Figure 1 of the drawings;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sketch showing the relative quenching effect of two streams of quenching fluid disposed in difierent angular relation with the surface of a metal body or object to be quenched;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken in a plane represented by line 44 of Figure 2 of the drawings;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure 4 of the drawings'disclosing an alter-- native arrangement of the fluid directing means; Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section taken in the plane represented by line 66 of Figure 5 of the drawings;

Figure 7. is a fragmentary view in elevation similar to Figure 5. of the drawings disclosing an alternative arrangement of the fluid directing 5 means; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary tiew in horizontal cross section taken in the planes represented by line 8-8 of Figure 7 of the drawings.

,Referrlng now more in detail to the drawings, 10 an embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention and for carrying out the method of quenching in accordance therewith is disclosed as comprising a substantially elliptical shaped casing 2 formed with a chamber 4 having a con- 15 nection 6 communicating therewith at one end and leading from a fluid supply means (not shown) for supplying quenching fluid therethrough' and into the chamber 6, this quenching fluid being discharged from the oppositely dis- 20 posed connection 8 which communicates with the other end of the chamber or compartment 4. Adjacent the connection 6 is provided a baflle Ill integral with the top and bottom walls l2 and M of the casing 2 which prevents surging of the 25 fluid as it enters the casing 2 by way of the conduit or connection 6, which would otherwise prevent the uniform discharge of this quenching fluid through jets or openings (to be later more fully described). This baflie or partition if! is 30 formed with a plurality of openingsor ports it suitably positioned for equalizing the fluid pressure within-the casing so that the discha ge through these jets or orifices may be substantially uniform and equalized. A similar partition it is formed integral with the top and bottom walls of the casing 2 and adjacent the discharge conduit or outlet 8 for efiecting the same results as the bafile or partition It. Disposed immediately above the conduits or connections 6 and 8 are provided removable plugs 20 and 22, respectively, threadedly engaging in suitable openings provided in the upper wall I2, whereby the chamber immediately adjacent the baflles Ill and I8 may be readily cleaned and refuse and 45 accumulations of sediment easily andread'ily removed. Further, removable plugs, such as 24, are disposed in spaced relation and threadedly engage in suitable openings provided in the bottom wall It, these plugs being removed when 50 necessary for drainage or for cleaning the casing 2, as likewise the jets or orifices to be presently described. a

In the present illustrative embodiment of the device particularly adapted for carrying out the I I method of the present invention, the casing 2' is provided with an annular inner wall 26 adapted to receive a car wheel 28 which is substantially circular in form. Although I have disclosed the present novel quenching device in connection with the car wheel 28, it is of course understood that the same may be used as desired with any other metal object or article, and when so used the wall 26 should preferably be formed to conform substantially to the shape of the article, in

order that the same may be more uniformlyquenched in accordance with the present disclosure.

In the present embodiment, the annular wall 26 is formed with a plurality of series of jets, such as the upper series 30, the intermediate series 32 and the lower series 34, which communicate with the chamber 4 of the casing 2 and are adapted to direct a quenching fluid against the surface or tread of the car wheel 28, these jets or orifices being disposed other than normally to the surface of the car wheel for effecting new and different results, as will be later more fully disclosed. Inasmuch as the present invention contemplates the idea of effecting a differential quenching of various portions of the surface of the car wheel 28, the series of jets or orifices 30 are shown as including a greater number than the number in the series of jets 32, while the number of jets in the series 32 is greater than the number within the series 34. Because of the variation in the number of jets within each of these series, the car wheel tread at a point 36 adjacent the flange 38 is more effectively quenched than the oppositely disposed portion 46 of this car wheel tread. The portion intermediate these points on the car wheel tread and which is subjected to the quenching fluid directed thereagainst by means of the series of jets 32 is affected to an intermediate degree, thereby varying the degree of quenching increasingly over the tread from the point 40 to the point 36 adjacent the flange 38.

As previously indicated, the present invention comprehends the idea of more equally and uniformly distributing a quenching fluid over the surface of a body or article to be quenched so as to increase the quenching effect for any given quantity of this quenching fluid. Heretofore it has been the practice of quenching the surface of a body or article by means of directing a plurality of streams, such as 42, in a direction substantially normal to the surface 44 of the article to be quenched, and as clearly disclosed in Figure 3 of the drawings. Under these conditions, the stream or jet 42 of quenching fluid strikes the surface 44 so as to cause a quenching thereof over an area substantially represented by the line a. In the present invention, however, the jet or stream of quenching fluid 46 is directed toward the surface 44 and at an angle to a line 48 which is substantially normal to the surface 44. It is to be understood that the term axial plane as used in the claims defines a plane which is normal to the wheel through the axis thereof and intersects the tread. It has been found that when the stream 46 is directed toward the surface 44 at an angle equal to about fifteen degrees is substantially greater than the line a. The quenching effect of a given quantity of quenching fluid is thereby greatly increased over the quenching effect of a fluid when directed against the surface in a normal direction.

In Figures 5 and 6 is disclosed an alternative arrangement of a series of jets 50, 52 and 54 for effecting a differential quenching of various portions of a metal body or article. In this arrangement the series of jets 50, 52 and 54 includes an equal number of jets, but as clearly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, these jets are angularly disposed in relation to the surface of a car wheel 56, whereby the quenching fluid passing there through is directed at varying degrees of angul5 larity over various portions of the surface of the car wheel, thereby varying the effectiveness of this fluid as a quenching agent.

In Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings, a still further arrangement of the jets or orifices is disclosed gthis embodiment showing a plurality of series of jets 58, 60 and 62 corresponding somewhat to the arrangement shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In this embodiment, the number of jets or orifices decreases progressively from 2 the series 58 to the series 62. In the arrangement as shown in these figures, the jets or orifices are arranged in a manner so as to uniformly quench the surface of a body or article. This will be quite apparent when reference is again made to Figure 3 of the drawings. Although a greater number of jets or orifices is shown in the series 58, these jets or orifices are disposed in normal relation to a body or article, such as a car wheel 64, or the like, and the quenching effect thereof is substantially the same as that of the series of jets 62 which are angularly disposed, even though a smaller number of jets comprises this latter series. Angular disposition of the jets or orifices in the series 60 is between that of the series 58 and 62, and because of the slight angular disposition of the orifices of this series a number greater than the number within the series 62 is required, but less than the number required in the series 58.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A methd of hardening the continuous tread .of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a plurality of streams of fluid against a portion of said tread so that each of said streams is angularly disposed in relation to a normal to said tread whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, and simultaneously directing a plurality of streams of fluid against another portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at a greater angle to a normal to the tread than said first-named streams whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, said differ- 65 ences in the angularity of said flrstand secondnamed streams causing varying degrees of hardness of different portions of said tread.

2. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing 7 a plurality of streams of fluid against a portion of said tread so that each of said streams is angularly disposed in relation to a normal to said tread whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, and simultaneously directing a plu- 15 rality of streams of fluid against another portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at a greater angle to a normal to the tread than said first-named streams whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, said differences in the angularity of said firstand second-named streams causing varying degrees of hardness of different portions of said tread,

and controlling the hardness of said portions by the relative angularity of said streams.

3. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a plurality of spaced streams of fluid against'a circumferential portion of said tread so that each of said streams is angularly disposed in relation to a normal to said tread whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, and simultaneously directing a plurality of spaced streams of fluid against an adjacent circumferential portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at a greater angle to a normal to the tread than said first-named streams whereby said portion is substantially uniformly hardened, said differences in the angularity of said firstand second-named streams causing progressively varying degrees of hardness of said circumferential portions.

4. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a series of spaced streams against a circumferen tial portion of said tread so that each stream is normal to said portion, and simultaneously directing another series consisting of a smaller number of spaced streams against an adjacent circumferential portion so that each of said streams is angularly disposed to a normal to said portion whereby said streams are more effectively dispersed over said portion to produce hardening thereof substantially equal to the hardening of said first-named portion.

5. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a series of spaced streams against a circumferential portion of said tread so that each stream is disposed at an angle to a normal to said tread, and simultaneously directing another series consisting of a smaller number of spaced streams against an adjacent circumferential portion so that each of said streams is disposed at a greater angle to a normal to said portion than the streams of said first series whereby said streams are more effectively dispersed over said portion to produce hardening thereof substantially equal to the hardening of said first-named portion.

6. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a series of spaced streams against a portion of said tread so that each stream is normal to said portion, and simultaneously directing a plurality of series of spaced streams against adjacent portions of said tread so that each of the streams is angularly disposed to a normal to said portions.

'7. A method of hardening the continuous tread V of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing ing from the number of other of said series and the angularity of the streams in each of said lastnamed series varying from the singularity of the streams of the other series.

8. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a series of spaced streams against a portion oi. 5

said tread so that each stream is normal to said portion, and simultaneously directing a plurality of series of spaced streams against adjacent portions of said tread so that each of the streams is angularly disposed to a normal to said portions, 10 the number of streams of said series being equal and the angularity of the streams of each of said last-named series varying from the other whereby the degree of hardening of the portions of said tread varies. l5

9. A method bf hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a series of spaced streams against a portion of said tread so that each stream is normal to said portion, and simultaneously directing 20 a plurality of series of spaced streams against adjacent portions of said tread so that each of the streams is angularly disposed to a normal to said portions, the number of streams in each of said last-named series varying and varying 25 from the number in saidfirst-named series and the angularity of the streams in one of said lastnamed series varying from the streams ofthe others whereby the degree of hardening of said portion of said tread varies.

10. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the step of directing a plurality of streams of fluid circumferentially against said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at an acute angle to an axial 85 plane through the tread atthe point of impact of thestream.

11. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the steps of directing a plurality of streams of fluid circum- 40 ferentially against a portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed in an axial plane through the tread at the point of impact of the stream, and simultaneously directing a plurality of streams of fluid circumferentially 45 against another portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at an acute angle to an axial plane through the tread at the point of recting a plurality of streams of fluid circumferentiallyagainst a portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed in an axial plane through the tread at the point of impact of the stream and at an acute angle to the tread at said point, and simultaneously directing a plurality of streams of fluid circumferentially against another portion of said tread so that each of said streams is disposed at an acute angle to an axial plane through the tread at the point of impact of the stream.

13. A method of hardening the continuous tread of a car wheel, comprising the step of simultaneously directing a plurality of series of streams against a'dJacent circumferential portions of said tread, the streams in each of said series being at a different angle with respect to the axial planes through the points of impact thereof with said tread than the streams in the other of said series.

ALFRED WALCHER. 

